Method and apparatus for containing and/or transporting rotor blades

Abstract

A fixture for at least one of supporting and transporting a load. The fixture includes a frame having a space defined between at least two portions of the frame. The space is configured to receive a portion of the load. The fixture also includes at least one cushion selectively positionable relative to the frame in at least two different positions wherein the at least one cushion is coupled to the frame to facilitate at least one of containing and supporting at least a portion of the load.

1 . A fixture for at least one of supporting and transporting a load, said fixture comprising: 
 a frame having a space defined between at least two portions of said frame, said space configured to receive a portion of the load; and    at least one cushion selectively positionable relative to said frame in at least two different positions wherein said at least one cushion is coupled to said frame to facilitate at least one of containing and supporting at least a portion of the load.    
   
   
       2 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion is movably coupled to said frame for movement with respect to said frame between said at least two different positions.  
   
   
       3 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said at least one cushion is rotatably coupled to said frame for rotation with respect to said frame between said at least two different positions.  
   
   
       4 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said at least one cushion is slidable along a member of said frame between said at least two different positions.  
   
   
       5 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion is configured to facilitate reducing forces induced to the load.  
   
   
       6 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion comprises a surface configured to facilitate increasing at least one of friction and stiction between the load and said surface.  
   
   
       7 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion comprises at least one of a natural fiber, rubber, latex, polyurethane, and memory foam.  
   
   
       8 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion is a first cushion, said fixture further comprising a second cushion that is coupleable to said frame in only one position and is non-movable relative to said frame once coupled thereto.  
   
   
       9 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion is coupled to a member extending from said frame, said at least one cushion rotatably coupled to said member for rotation with respect to said member.  
   
   
       10 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the load is a first load, said at least one cushion is selectively positionable between a first position configured to engage the first load and a second position configured to engage a second load that is at least one of differently sized and shaped than the first load.  
   
   
       11 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one cushion is positionable between a first position that is configured to facilitate at least one of loading the load into said space and unloading the load from said space, and a second position that is configured to facilitate at least one of containing and supporting the load.  
   
   
       12 . A fixture assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said fixture is configured to at least one of stack on another fixture and have another fixture stacked thereon.  
   
   
       13 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the load comprises a rotor blade, said fixture further comprising a portion of said rotor blade received within said space, said at least one cushion at least partially engaging said rotor blade portion to facilitate at least one of containing and supporting said rotor blade portion.  
   
   
       14 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising a portion of another rotor blade received within said space, and a partition extending at least partially between said rotor blade portions.  
   
   
       15 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising another fixture supporting another portion of the rotor blade.  
   
   
       16 . A fixture in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said rotor blade portion comprises a portion of a wind turbine rotor blade.  
   
   
       17 . A method for at least one of supporting and transporting a rotor blade using a frame having a space defined between at least two portions thereof and a cushion selectively positionable relative to the frame in at least two different positions wherein the cushion is coupled to the frame, said method comprising: 
 receiving a portion of the rotor blade within the frame space;    positioning the cushion such that the cushion engages the rotor blade portion to facilitate at least one of supporting the rotor blade portion and containing the rotor blade portion; and    transporting the frame to thereby transport the rotor blade.    
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the cushion is coupled to the frame and positioning the cushion comprises moving the cushion relative to the frame.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein moving the cushion further comprises rotating the cushion.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein moving the cushion further comprises sliding the cushion along a member of the frame.  
   
   
       21 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein positioning the cushion comprises positioning the cushion before receiving the rotor blade portion within the frame space.  
   
   
       22 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising receiving a portion of another rotor blade within the frame space.  
   
   
       23 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising supporting another portion of the rotor blade with another fixture.  
   
   
       24 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising stacking another fixture on top of the fixture to facilitate at least one of supporting and transporting a plurality of rotor blades.  
   
   
       25 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein positioning the cushion further comprises positioning the cushion between a first position that is configured to facilitate at least one of loading the rotor blade portion into the space and unloading the rotor blade portion from the space, and a second position that is configured to facilitate at least one of containing and supporting the rotor blade portion.  
   
   
       26 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising facilitating reducing forces induced to the rotor blade.  
   
   
       27 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising facilitating increasing at least one of friction and stiction between the rotor blade and a surface of the cushion.  
   
   
       28 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the cushion is a first cushion, said method further comprising at least one of supporting and containing the rotor blade portion with a second cushion that is coupleable to the frame in only one position and is non-movable relative to the frame once coupled thereto.  
   
   
       29 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the rotor blade is a first rotor blade, said method further comprising: 
 removing the first rotor blade portion from the frame space;    positioning the cushion; and    receiving a portion of a second rotor blade in the frame space, wherein the second rotor blade comprises at least one of a different size and a different shape than the first rotor blade.    
   
   
       30 . A fixture assembly for at least one of supporting and transporting at least two rotor blades, said fixture comprising: 
 a portion of each of the at least two rotor blades; and    a frame having a space defined between at least two portions of said frame, said space configured to receive said at least two rotor blade portions, wherein said frame comprises a maximum height of between about 2 meters and about 5 meters and a maximum width of between about 1.5 meters and about 3.5 meters.    
   
   
       31 . A fixture assembly in accordance with  claim 30  wherein the frame complies with at least one load restriction.  
   
   
       32 . A fixture assembly in accordance with  claim 30  wherein said at least two rotor blade portions comprise at least two wind turbine rotor blade portions.